The most expensive nuclear energy projects around the world

From the UK’s controversial Hinkley Point C nuclear power station to India’s proposed Jaitapur plant, which on completion will have a total capacity of just under 10,000MW, nuclear projects around the world are helping nations to meet increasing energy demand. Using data from Timetric, we profile the top 10 most expensive power stations around the world

Moorside Nuclear Power Plant, UK - $20bn

NuGeneration is planning to build the Moorside nuclear power plant project in Cumbria, UK.

The project involves the construction of a 3,800MW nuclear power plant.


The project includes the construction of water treatment systems and the installation of three Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized water reactors of 1,154MW capacity each, as well as pressure vessels, safety equipment, steam generators, moisture separators, re-heaters and switchyards.

Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station, UK - $23.68bn

EDF Energy (EDF), together with Areva, China General Nuclear Corporation (CGN) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), is constructing the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in southwest England, UK.


The project involves the construction of a 3,260MW nuclear power complex and will be executed in two phases. It includes the construction of two buildings for European pressurised reactor nuclear reactors, a powerhouse, a temporary jetty, a storage facility, water treatment systems and the installation of safety equipment and a pressure vessel.


The project also includes the construction of three tunnels: two for cool-water intake and one for an outlet. The intake tunnels will be 3.4km and 3.5km long and 6m wide; the outlet tunnel will be 1.8km long and 7m wide.

Cadarache ITER Nuclear Fusion Power Plant, France - $21.848bn

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Organization (ITER), in association with the French Government, is undertaking the Cadarache ITER nuclear fusion power plant at Cadarache in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.


The project involves the construction of a 500MW nuclear fusion power plant over an area of 180ha. It includes the construction of a Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility building, a Cryostat Workshop building, ITER headquarters building to accommodate 500 employees, seven-storied Tokamak Complex to house cooling systems, heating systems, electrical power supplies and diagnostics, an assembly building, administrative buildings, access roads, parking facilities, food courts and other related facilities.

Sinop Nuclear Power Plant, Turkey - $25bn 

Elektrik Uretim Genel Mudurlugu, along with partners Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Areva and Engie, is planning to build a 4,480MW nuclear power plant in Sinop, Turkey.


The project will use four ATMEA 1 reactors, each with a capacity of 1,120MW.

The project will include the construction of a nuclear technology centre, substations and other related facilities, the installation of steam generators, reactor coolant pumps and power control units, associated facilities, the installation of a boiler, cooling water system, transformer and the laying of transmission lines.

El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, Egypt - $30bn 

Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) is undertaking the construction of a nuclear power plant in Egypt.


The project involves the construction of a 4,800MW nuclear power plant consisting of four power units with 1,200MW capacity each. It includes the installation of steam generators, reactor coolant pumps, high-pressure re-heaters, a low-pressure re-heater, and a steam generator blow-down tank, four VVER-1200 nuclear reactors, and the laying of transmission lines. The project is being developed in four phases.


The project also involves the construction of an overhead transmission line from Borg El Arab to Mersa Matruh in Egypt.

Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, UAE - $24.4bn 

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and Korea Electric Power Corporation are building a nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE.


The project involves the construction of a 5,600MW nuclear power plant comprising four nuclear reactors of 1,400MW each. It includes the construction of a powerhouse, substations, marine infrastructural works, and related facilities, the laying of transmission lines, and the installation of nuclear reactors.


The marine infrastructural works include the dredging of 9.6 million cubic metres of material, the construction of a 15.3km breakwater, including 10.7km of intake breakwater and 4.6km of discharge breakwater.

Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant, India - $24bn

Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) is planning to undertake a nuclear power plant project in Maharashtra, India.


The project involves the construction of a nuclear power plant with an installed power capacity of 9,900MW (6x1650MW). The project is planned to be implemented in two phases.


The first phase includes the construction of two units of nuclear power plant with a total installed capacity of 3,300MW and the second phase includes the construction of four nuclear power units with a total installed capacity of 6,600MW.

Geregu Nuclear Power Plant, Nigeria - $20bn

The Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, in partnership with Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), is undertaking the construction of the Geregu nuclear power plant project in Kogi, Nigeria.


The project involves the construction of a 1,200MW nuclear power plant. It includes the construction of a powerhouse, substation access roads, the laying of transmission lines, and the installation of generators, turbines and transformers.

Thyspunt Nuclear Power Station, South Africa - $20.073bn 

Eskom Holdings is planning to build a nuclear power plant in Oyster Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa.


The project involves the construction of a 4,000MW nuclear power plant. It includes the construction of a powerhouse, a substation and related infrastructure, and the installation of generators and power-control systems.

North Anna Power Station Unit III, US - $20bn

Dominion Virginia Power (DVP) is planning to undertake the construction of a nuclear power plant in Louisa County, Virginia, US.


The project involves the construction of a 1,470MW nuclear power plant.


The project will include the construction of nuclear waste collector units, water treatment systems and pressure vessels, the installation of steam generators, generators, moisture separator re-heaters, high-pressure re-heaters, low-pressure re-heater, reactor coolant pumps, steam generator blowdown tank and safety system, and the laying of transmission lines.


Unit III will be designed to operate for up to 80 years.

Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station, UK - $23.68bn

EDF Energy (EDF), together with Areva, China General Nuclear Corporation (CGN) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), is constructing the Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station in southwest England, UK.


The project involves the construction of a 3,260MW nuclear power complex and will be executed in two phases. It includes the construction of two buildings for European pressurised reactor (EPR) nuclear reactors, a powerhouse, a temporary jetty, a storage facility, water treatment systems and the installation of safety equipment and a pressure vessel.


The project also includes the construction of three tunnels: two for cool-water intake and one for an outlet. The intake tunnels will be 3.4km and 3.5km-long and 6m-wide; the outlet tunnel will be 1.8km-long and 7m-wide.

Moorside Nuclear Power Plant, UK - $20bn

NuGeneration is planning to build the Moorside Nuclear Power Plant project in Cumbria, UK.


The project involves the construction of a 3,800MW nuclear power plant.

The project includes the construction of water treatment systems and the installation of three Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized water reactors (PWR) of 1,154MWe nameplate capacity each, as well as pressure vessels, safety equipment, steam generators, moisture separators, re-heaters and switchyards.

Cadarache ITER Nuclear Fusion Power Plant, France - $21.848bn

International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Organization (ITER), in association with the French Government, is undertaking the Cadarache ITER Nuclear Fusion Power Plant at Cadarache in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.


The project involves the construction of a 500MW nuclear fusion power plant over an area of 180ha. It includes the construction of a Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility building, a Cryostat Workshop building, ITER headquarters building to accommodate 500 employees, seven-storied Tokamak Complex to house cooling systems, heating systems, electrical power supplies and diagnostics, an assembly building, administrative buildings, access roads, parking facilities, food courts and other related facilities.

Sinop Nuclear Power Plant, Turkey - $25bn 

Elektrik Uretim AS (EUAS) Genel Mudurlugu along with partners, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHVYF) & Areva, Engie (ENGI) is planning to build a nuclear power plant (NPP) project in Sinop, Turkey.


The project involves the construction of a 4,480MW NPP comprising four ATMEA 1 reactors, each with a capacity of 1,120MW.


The project will include the construction of a nuclear technology centre, substations and other related facilities, the installation of steam generators, reactor coolant pumps and power control units, associated facilities, the installation of a boiler, cooling water system, transformer and the laying of transmission lines.

El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, Egypt - $30bn 

Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) is undertaking the construction of a nuclear power plant in Egypt.


The project involves the construction of a 4,800MW nuclear power plant consisting of four power units with 1,200MW capacity each. It includes the installation of steam generators, reactor coolant pumps, high-pressure re-heaters, a low-pressure re-heater, and a steam generator blow-down tank, four VVER-1200 nuclear reactors, and the laying of transmission lines. The project is being developed in four phases.

The project also involves the construction of an overhead transmission line from Borg El Arab to Mersa Matruh in Egypt.

Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, UAE - $24.4bn 

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) are undertaking the construction of a nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE.


The project involves the construction of a 5,600MW nuclear power plant comprising four nuclear reactors of 1,400MW each. It includes the construction of a powerhouse, substations, marine infrastructural works, and related facilities, the laying of transmission lines, and the installation of nuclear reactors.


The marine infrastructural works include the dredging of 9.6 million cubic metres of material, the construction of a 15.3km breakwater, including 10.7km of intake breakwater and 4.6km of discharge breakwater.

Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant, India - $24bn

Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) is planning to undertake a nuclear power plant project in Maharashtra, India.


The project involves the construction of a nuclear power plant with an installed power capacity of 9,900MW (6x1650MW). The project is planned to be implemented in two phases.


The first phase includes the construction of two units of nuclear power plant with a total installed capacity of 3,300MW and the second phase includes the construction of four nuclear power units with a total installed capacity of 6,600MW.

Geregu Nuclear Power Plant, Nigeria - $20bn

The Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), in partnership with Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), is undertaking the construction of the Geregu Nuclear Power Plant project in Kogi, Nigeria.


The project involves the construction of a 1,200MW nuclear power plant. It includes the construction of a powerhouse, substation access roads, the laying of transmission lines, and the installation of generators, turbines and transformers.

Thyspunt Nuclear Power Station, South Africa - $20.073bn 

Eskom Holdings is planning to build a nuclear power plant in Oyster Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa.


The project involves the construction of a 4,000MW nuclear power plant. It includes the construction of a powerhouse, a substation and related infrastructure, and the installation of generators and power-control systems.

North Anna Power Station Unit III, US - $20bn

Dominion Virginia Power (DVP) is planning to undertake the construction of a nuclear power plant in Louisa County, Virginia, US.


The project involves the construction of a 1,470MW nuclear power plant.


The project will include the construction of nuclear waste collector units, water treatment systems and pressure vessels, the installation of steam generators, generators, moisture separator re-heaters, high-pressure re-heaters, low-pressure re-heater, reactor coolant pumps, steam generator blowdown tank and safety system, and the laying of transmission lines.

Unit III will be designed to operate for up to 80 years.

Cover image credit: photocosmos1 / Shutterstock.com

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